Come sit with me for awhile . . .
and see what I’m bringing to the table

I come bearing gifts .   .   . gifts of stress free mornings. Mornings that will have you feeling as though you just had a head to toe spa experience. How can that be? Stay with  me because I’m about to sprinkle ‘edible fairy dust’ alllll over your kitchen. For those of you who are about to pack your kids off to school, this is the perfect time to keep reading. Let me guess .   .   . your into the brown bag syndrome .   .   . you know .   .   .  the same dull ho hum uninviting bag that you sent him/her/them off to school with last semester, and the semester before that, and so on. Maybe you got them a new lunch box, the kind that has graphics of one sort or another to change it up a notch. But, if  you’re still using a ‘brown’ bag .   .   . please .   .   . oh please think COLOR .   .   . color is all around us, and stimulates our senses, and creativity.  Color very often sets our moods, just as to many dark cloudy days can impact our moods. Color bags are inexpensive and readily available.

Do you, or have you .   .   . ever wondered whether they actually eat the same boring repetitive lunches, week after week, month after month that they carry on their back? Hmmmm? .   .   . Don’t you want to be the fairy godmother/godfather who rescues them from robotic lunch hell??? I offer you my readers, some not so ho hum changes to speed them out the door .   .   . AND have them coming back for more the next day .   .   . yes .   .   . I said coming back for more! Oh I see some of you shaking your heads .   .   . that’s because .   .   . you throw some loose change out there, and let them work it out at the cafeteria .   .   . RIGHT ? .   .   . take a sec. and mosey on down to the school just before lunch, and see what your money isss buying. It’s the menu the school board promises to be fresh, and healthy.  Go ahead and really look !! Ah ha .   .   . It’s not always what it’s cracked up to be? Sooooooo…

I offer you ‘THE MENU’ .   .   .

Now hold on .   .   . keep reading .   .   . this is a viable solution to the ho hum, oh no not again lunches that more than likely get traded off for .   .   . wellll .   .   . better you don’t know!! I say .   .   . create a healthy menu that offers seven (7) choices, along with seven (7) choices for sides, and juices. (I picked seven choices,  for the very same reason most of us don’t like being limited on a holiday or brunch menu .   .   . we all want options people, options!). Once you create the week’s choices,  print it up off your computer .   .   . or let the kids print on a blackboard. Lay it out with day 1, thru day 5, and they just fill in the letters A thru G corresponding to the choices.  They are now masters of their own lunch destiny, and have magically been empowered to make simple choices for themselves, further teaching them to be self sufficient!!! WOW .   .   . what kid wouldn’t love to have some say in their day to day structured existence?

Rather than slather mayo, mustard, or ketchup before their food even leaves the house, try giving them the small packets like some restaurants use. No one likes eating soggy, hard to hold on to gooey wet wraps, or sandwiches. Now I know they’re kids.   .   . buttttt .   .   . pleeeease .   .   . can they have a decent napkin to use. Thank you! Now that didn’t hurt so much right? Such a simple addition, a cloth napkin* .   .   . simple yes .   .  . but in it’s simplicity a loud message will be heard .   .   . that you are always thinking about ways to show them just how special they are. For drinks .   .   . freeze those juice boxes so that at lunch time the drinks will have thawed but will still be cold, and inviting. The cold will also keep food at a safe, and healthy temperature, with a big bonus of tasting fresh. Presentation parents!!! .   .   .   Life is all about presentation .   .   .

*Use leftover fabric, or buy remnants (launder first), that can be cut into a 22″ square before hemming, (finished size between 20-21″). Bright solids, mixed with patterns will make it personal, and fun. I’ve personally used Stitch Witchery a no sew tape, it’s fast and has easy to follow instructions .   .   .  YAY!!!!!!!  Go ahead .   .   . now it’s your turn to go forth, and sprinkle some ‘edible fairy dust’ of your own.

Til next time .   .   .

MORE CANDLE TIPS NEXT TIME

Sharon Insul is the former owner of the popular Beverly Hills boutique Candle light and…

I WELCOME YOUR COMMENTS and QUESTIONS  .   .   . sharons3@me.com

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